The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-27
The Story of a Wreck.
Thrilling and Romantic Account Of
a Mutiny at Sea.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
CHAPTER XIV.-CoNTINUEn
rs the niOht dark?'

LCI- IAf6 1IO lcdIs edlu, HdnulHS
her my watch; 1--WE shall get the bosom
safely slowed below, and with him a
crow-bar. The carpenter will find it
rather harder than he imagines to scut-
tie the ship. He-I mean the bosom
is sound asleep. Sand snoring like a
field-marshal on the eve Of glory. His
trum pctIng is wonderfully consoing,
for no man could snore like that who
fOrebOdes a dismal ending of life
took her hand, receiving as L did so
n brave smile from her hopeful, pretty
face, and left her.
Without much idea of sleeping, Law
down under a blanket, but fell asleep
Immediately, and slept rs soundly, if
not as nOisily, as the boatswa;n until
eleven 0 clock.
The sound of eight bells being struck
awokc rue and set my heart TO beat
ing rather quickly, and almost imme-
diately | heard Stevens heavy step
coming down the companion-ladder.
/ lay quiet, thinking he might look
in, as it would better suit my purpose
TO let him think me asleep. He went
and reused out the boatswain, and
But Stephens DID not Immediately
turn in. l cautiously distracted the
key, and looked through the key-hole,
and observed him bring out bottle of
rum and a tumbler from the pantry,
and help himself to a stiff glass. He
swallowed the fiery draught with his
back turned upon the main-deck, that
the men, if any were about, should not
see him; and drying his lips by run
ming his sleeve the full length of his
arm over them, he replaced the bottle
and glass, and went to his cabin.
This was now my time. There was
nothing TO fear from his finding me on
deck should he take it into his head to
come M, since it was reasonable that
]. acting as skipper, should at any and
all hours be watching the weather and
noting the ships course, more partic-
ulariy now, when we We're supposed TO
be drawing near land.
Still, | left my cabin quietly, as l did
not want him to hear me, and sneaked
up through the companion on tiptOe.
The night was not so pitch-dark us
might have expected from the appear
ance of it through the port-holc; but it
was quite dark enough TO answer.
stepped up 10 the bOatswain who
stood near the mizzen-mast.
Are You ready, BOSOM"
"AIl ready
Not afraid of the rats?" | said, with
a laugh.
mo, nor wuss than rats" he re-
lied. Has the lady got my clothes
on yet? / should like TO see her
She'll come when we are ready. |
That light shining on the Skylight must |
he concealed. | don't want to put the |
lamp out, and an afraid to draw the |
curtains for fear the rings should rattle. |
There's tarpaulin in the starboard |
quarter boat: take and throw it over
the skyligl,- while 90 aft and talk to
the fellow steering. Who is hep"
Jim Cornish"
He found the tarpaulin and concealed |
<:le light, while | spoke to the man at |
the wheel about the ships course, the
look of the weather and so on.
Nov" said |, reiOining the boat
swain, ''cOme and take two or three !
turns along the poop. that Cornish may |
see us together"
We paced to and fro, stopping every !
time we reached the wheel to look at |
the compass.
When we were at the fore end of the
poop halted.
Walk aft" / said, land post YOUR
self right in the way of Cornish, that !
he shan't be able to see along the
weather-side of the poop"
followed him until had come to
the part of the deck that was right over
Miss Robertson's cabin, and there |
struck three smart blows with the heel I
of my boot, at The same time tapping
my hands against my breast so as to
make Cornish believe that was warm
ing myself.
| walked TO the break of the poop !
and waited.
In less time than could count twenty
a figure came out of the cuddy and
mounted the pOop-ladder and stood by
my side. Looking close into the face
1 could see that it was rather too white
10 be 4 sailors, that was all. The fg-
ure WAS a mans, most perfectly Sc.
"Admirabler' l whispered grasp
ing her hand.
IpoSted her close against the screened
s&ylight, that her figure might be on
n level with the miLzen-maSt viewed
from the wheel, and called to the boat
swain.
The tone of my voice gave him his
cue. He came forward just as man
would to receive an order.
.'She is here" | said. turning him by
the arm to where Miss Robertson
stood, mOtionless. For Gods sake,
get forward at Oncei Lose no timer
He went up to her and said.
I'm sorry can't sec you properly,
miss. If this wuz daylight reckon
you'd make handsome sailor. just fit
for the gals to go dreamin' an ravin'
about"
With which. and waving his hand,
the plucky fellow slipped off the poop
like a shadow. and l watched him
glide along the main-deck until he van s
ished.
Now" whispered 1 to my COM
panion, ''the tragedy begins. We
must walk up and down that the man
steering may see as. Keep on the left
side of the deck; it is higher than ]
where l shall walk, and will make you
look taller" IL
1posted her properly, and we la.gan
to measure the deck.
L took care not to go farther than
the mizzen-rigging, so that Cornish
should distinguish nothing but our s
figures; and after we had paraded the
deck awhile asked her to stand near I
the quarter-bOat, in which 1 had placed
the box.
I then got on to the rail and fished
out the box smartly, and stood it On s